Introduction: We investigated a protocol to support the treatment of constipation that was developed in collaboration with physicians and the effectiveness of Protocol Based Pharmacotherapy Management (PBPM) performed by pharmacists in improving constipation.Methiod: Patients with constipation who underwent PBPM between August 2020 and May 2021 were included in this study. The results of the Constipation Scoring System (CSS) and the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) assessments by pharmacists on the first day of intervention and at discharge were collected retrospectively to evaluate the efficacy of PBPM. Wilcoxon's signed rank test was used for statistical analysis, and the threshold value for rejecting the null hypothesis was p < 0.05.Results: Of the 23 eligible patients, three were excluded according to the criteria, and 20 patients were included. Median CSS improved significantly from 11.5 points [8.25-16.75] at the first intervention to 5.5 points [2.75-10.25] at discharge. The median BSFS improved significantly from Type 2 [2-3] to Type 3.5 [3-4]. Conclusion: PBPM by pharmacists to support the treatment of constipation resulted in improvement of constipation.

Objective : To examine the relation between psychoactive drugs and the outcome of dysphagia in patients with psychiatric disorders. Methods : We examined 53 inpatients who were prescribed speech therapy in the psychiatry ward of our hospital from January 2011 to April 2012. We categorized the patients into a poor outcome group and a good outcome group by the necessity for alternative nutrition at discharge and analyzed the number and kind of typical antipsychotic, atypical antipsychotic, hypnotic, antidepressant and mood stabilizer, total amount of typical antipsychotic, atypical antipsychotic used at admission and at discharge, sex, psychiatric disorder, central nervous system disease, aspiration pneumonia, duration of hospitalization, psychiatric disorder disease period, speech therapy intervention period and GAF scale at admission. Results : The outcome of dysphagia had a significant relation with the number and kind of antipsychotic used, especially typical antipsychotic used at admission. The good outcome group had a higher total amount of antipsychotic use, especially atypical antipsychotics. Conclusion : Long-term practical oral intake should not comprise antipsychotic polypharmacy, especially typical antipsychotics before onset of dysphagia, but should instead consist of a monopharmacy approach with atypical antipsychotics.

Dysphagia is a syndrome associated with many diseases and is emerging as a big problem in the Japanese aged society. It is important to observe the symptoms and realize the causes of dysphagia. Swallowing disorders are often caused by organic etiology such as tumors and traumas, but many patients suffer from functional disorders after stroke and neuromuscular diseases. Nasogastric tube placement and medications can also iatrogenically cause swallowing problems. When making a diagnosis, it is important to understand the mechanisms and signs of pseudobulbar palsy and bulbar palsy. Whereas bulbar palsy occurs following a lesion in the brain stem swallowing center, pseudobulbar palsy relates to bilateral corticobulbar tract damage. Interestingly, some clinicians report that dysphagia can be caused by unilateral cortical lesions including lesions in the insular cortex. To detect dysphagia, questionnaires and screening tests are helpful, as are water swallow tests, RSST, cervical auscultation and so on, but clinical observation of the swallowing session is most valuable. Videofluoroscopic and videoendoscopic examinations are required for precise diagnosis and further management. To know the gap between the capability function and performance state of swallowing, it is good to establish treatment goals. It is also important to know if the disease is progressive or not. For patients with progressive disease such as ALS, compensatory management should be a priority. We use functional training including muscle strengthening and swallowing technique for non progressive disorders. Medical treatments using ACE inhibitors and so on are options which might be effective to prevent aspiration pneumonia, and also, surgical treatments such as cricopharyngeal myotomy and laryngeal suspension are indispensable in treating patients with severe dysphagia.

This report presents the case of a patient treated with epiglottoplasty (Biller's laryngoplasty technique) for the pseudobulbar type of dysphagia associated with herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE). A 67-year-old man developed acute HSE with disturbance of consciousness and intractable aspiration. Oral intake was tried, but resulted in aspiration pneumonia and was therefore canceled at the patient's former institution. At 12 months following onset, the patient consulted our hospital and we judged that aspiration could not be controlled, and that surgical management would be needed. In order to both prevent aspiration and preserve phonation, epiglottoplasty was performed at 15 months following onset. Postoperatively, the patient was able to resume an unrestricted diet except for clear liquids. He also underwent voice rehabilitation with the support of his family and rehabilitation staff. These efforts finally enabled him to speak clearly. Epiglottoplasty is an effective treatment for intractable aspiration, but this procedure is not widely known to Japanese physiatrists. Careful patient screening and selection by the attending physiatrist is essential, as is providing adequate postoperative swallowing and voice rehabilitation.